We'd like to welcome all of you who are here for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Knoxville Tennessee Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are grateful for the participation of all of those who are with us here in the stake center and also those who are viewing remotely.

We’re pleased to recognize Elder Shayne Bowen, General Authority Seventy,

who presides over the ceremony.

Elder Bowen is accompanied by his wife, Sister Lynette Bowen.

I’m Russell Barber, the groundbreaking co-chairman with my wife for the groundbreaking activity, and Elder Bowen has asked me to conduct.

We'd like to give special recognition to the special guests that we have here on the front row. They've taken time from their busy schedules. I know it's a sacrifice for them to be here, but we really appreciate it.

There are members of the local, state, and federal government officials who are here, along with church and

faith leaders. We extend our appreciation also to the members of the committee who have worked so hard to prepare to have this groundbreaking ceremony that we're going to have today.

I'd like to especially recognize the chairpersons that have been working with Sister Barber and I:

first of all, Eric Olsen, physical facilities; Kris Lunsford, who’s been involved with technology; Kimberly Montieth, communications; and Dee Barnes, historical.

We’ll now begin this service with an invocation offered by Gerald Davies, patriarch in the Asheville Stake.

Our kind, gracious, eternal Father in Heaven,

we humbly assemble before Thee today to initiate the construction of a temple of the Lord. We're so thankful for the faith and the dedication of the saints in this area,

and we acknowledge that having a temple in this area will greatly facilitate our ability to accomplish essential earthly ordinances. Father, we’re

thankful for the inspired leadership and guidance that we receive

from the leaders of Thy Church.

And now, Father, we ask that Thy spirit be with each of those who participate in this session today, and I do this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Since the beginning of this dispensation, groundbreaking ceremonies have been a part of the history of the Church.

The first temple was located in Independence, Missouri, and President Joseph Smith received revelation specific about that activity,

and he said that the Lord had identified the spot for the temple and commanded that the land be consecrated and dedicated. To fulfill the Lord’s commandment, the Church has moved to symbolic groundbreaking ceremonies at the commencement of any temple that’s being constructed— a house of the Lord. As we celebrate the commencement and construction of this house of the Lord, let us remember the reason we build these sacred temples.

It’s so that we can make sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father and receive priesthood ordinances that will bind us to our Heavenly Father and to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We’ll now move forward with the groundbreaking program as follows: We’ll first hear from two youth speakers. First, Katelyn Adams of the Knoxville Cumberland Stake and then Logan Pickup of the Kingsport Stake. They'll be followed by two persons who have lived in East Tennessee for a very long time, and I'm sure have looked forward to the opportunity to finally have a temple here in East Tennessee. That would be Sister Gloria Smart of the Chattanooga Stake and Marnice Martin of the Cookeville Stake.

They’ll be followed—following their brief remarks, we’ll have a special musical number by the Knoxville Youth Choir.

The number is entitled, “This is the Christ.”

It’s directed by Kelly Carey Kay and accompanied by Amy Williamson.

Good morning. My name is Katelyn Adams. I’m from the Melton Lake Ward in the Knoxville Cumberland Stake. I'm so excited that we're getting a temple in Knoxville. It’s already been such an answer to my prayers. Over the last summer, I was able to go to the For the Strength of Youth camp in Greenville, South Carolina. One of the speakers we had that week was named Brother Priest and in his first lesson, he shared that the reason God does not immediately answer our prayers is so that He can form a closer relationship with us. I wrote down a quote from him that was, if God answered me immediately, then I wouldn’t get to know Him and love Him. This made me think about our Knoxville Temple. I know that we've all been praying for this temple for many, many years and we finally received an answer.

I've also seen within my own youth group how much closer to God we've gotten as we've been working together to receive this temple.

When the temple was first announced in general conference, I was reminded about the importance of consistent prayer to bring me closer to Him. I’ve often felt like my prayers were not being answered, but as I've continued to faithfully pray, I've always received an answer even when I wasn't expecting it. The Knoxville Temple has helped me to strengthen my testimony that God has a divine plan for me, and that I can always trust His timing.

I've also seen this in my own ward since I've been serving as our Young Women’s missionary representative. Once a week, I'm able to meet with our mission president and our missionaries. I was encouraged to begin praying for missionary experiences, and as I did, I immediately began to have them. I was surprised by how quickly it came, and I realized that one of my favorite things I get to share is about the temple and the gift of eternal marriages.

I feel so blessed to have the gift of eternal marriage and eternal family in my life, and it's been an important part of my testimony of temple work.

The Knoxville Temple has already been such a blessing in my life, and I cannot wait for it to be finished. I've often had a hard time making it on my ward's temple trips, because they're somehow always planned when I already have commitments, but I've realized that this has helped me to have much more gratitude for when I am able to make it.

Attending the temple has allowed me to clear my mind and see everything that God's blessed me with. The temple has given me a testimony of God's love for me and for all His children. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

It's an exciting time to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 2018, our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, gave the youth an invitation to join the Lord’s battalion to help gather Israel on both sides of the veil.

He reminded us there is

nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than the gathering of Israel. He promised us when we accept this challenge, we have the opportunity to be part of something big, something grand, something majestic. My family has been blessed to attend nearly 50 temples on five different continents. Until this temple was announced, like many of you, our closest temple was four hours away.

As a family, we have made it a priority to attend the temple

as we travel to various destinations. Often this requires a sacrifice of time away from other tourist sites and popular activities, but it is always one of the highlights of the trip for me. What a special opportunity to see the fullness of the gospel being spread throughout the world.

The gold lettering on the outside wall of all the temples reads the same.

Although it be written in various languages, the message is clear: holiness to the Lord, the house of the Lord.

It is a great reminder that each of these beautiful buildings is a place of worship, a place of love, a place of peace,

all of which can be ours only through our Savior, Jesus Christ, within the walls of His holy temple.

As a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, I have the sacred privilege to assist in performing the baptismal ordinances.

It is humbling to know I am helping my ancestors make their first covenant with their Heavenly Father, the first step in returning to Him.

Participating in and making temple work a priority is to be a part of something big, something grand, something majestic.

I can testify of the love of Heavenly Father for all His children all over the world.

He wants to gather us all back home to Him. As we stay on the covenant path and look for ways to serve others, we truly will be a part of the most important work being done on the earth right now. President Nelson has recently given a message to us, the rising generation of the world. He simply said, Now is your time. You are establishing priorities and patterns that will dramatically affect not just your mortal life, but also your eternal life.

It will be exciting to share our faith and beliefs with others in our neighborhoods as they ask about this new temple that will stand as a house of the Lord in Knoxville, Tennessee.

I pray we all can continue to make temple attendance a priority as we continue to think celestial and stand in holy places by performing temple ordinance work for our ancestors

and make it an eternal pattern and priority in our lives we will be blessed. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

If you haven't been thinking celestial while preparing for this temple groundbreaking ceremony today, I invite you to stop thinking about all the other things you might be thinking about and begin thinking celestial. Quote, Jesus Christ is the reason we build temples. Each is His holy house. Making covenants and receiving essential ordinances in the temple, as well as seeking to draw closer to Him there, will bless your life in ways no other kind of worship can. Unquote. President Nelson.

I have a childhood memory that I consider to be a defining moment in my life.

I think if I have had defining moments in my life, you certainly probably have had them in yours, too.

My family did not learn about the Church until I was 14 years old, but this experience happened to me when I was around 7 or 8 years old.

Way back in the early days of television,

I found myself one afternoon in front of the TV, watching a play of the Easter story with all of the events leading up to the crucifixion of the Savior.

I was alone, but I can still remember the tears that could not be held back and the giant pounding in my little girl heart.

And I knew that Jesus was real, and that what He did was for me and for everyone.

Whether it was the light of Christ or the Holy Ghost, I know not.

But in retrospect, I knew that God loved me and that He loved everyone.

He is always ready to prompt us and let us know of His love, no matter who, where, or how old we are.

One of the first blessings I recognized from going to the temple was that of peace.

One of my grandsons expressed it this way: it’s like walking off the planet.

He only expressed what I think it's like to leave the world and the cares of the world, so we can concentrate on what's really important.

Our prophet has taught that salvation is an individual affair, but exaltation

is a family affair. When we qualify to enter the temple, it doesn't mean we are perfect. It means we're trying to live the commandments and trying to learn more about God and His plan for the human family.

Where else on earth can we go to learn these truths?

I consider this to be a blessing for all of us.

Now, way back in the 1900s,

we had a very special visitor at our stake conference in Chattanooga.

It was Elder Russell M. Nelson.

He gave us some counsel that I shall never forget, and I feel like I have to share it with you today. And I paraphrase his words.

When you are going to attend the temple,

always have a question in your mind.

That question or that particular question may not get an answer that day, but another question you weren’t even thinking about may be answered.

I testify to you that his counsel is true. The temple is a house of learning. What a blessing it is to have your personal questions answered in the temple.

President Nelson also explained that when doctrines of the gospel are written in the fleshy tables of our hearts, they become an integral part of our nature.

This process of internalizing gospel doctrines occurs through the power of the Holy Ghost. We can access the power of the Holy Ghost when we live worthily, keep the commandments, and when we stand in holy places.

Have you felt the pull from your ancestors to perform ordinances and covenants for them? You know what I’m talking about. That feeling,

that feeling when you open up FamilySearch to make a correction or add a name and four hours later you're still on the site finding more than you ever thought possible.

It's real, it's sweet, it's filling,

and it's a blessing for our kindred dead and for us.

Recently, within a period of 11 months, four of our immediate family members passed to the other side of the veil.

For those of us left behind, it's been a tough time.

It was confirmed to me in the temple that when a loved one leaves our family circle, it's very temporary and that's been a comforting blessing for me.

Jesus Christ is the reason we build temples. Etched in stone on the front of each of our temples are the words, holiness to the Lord, the house of the Lord. I hope and pray when the Knoxville Temple is completed and dedicated, and you see these words as you enter the doors,

you will be thinking celestial, just as you are today.

And I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Brothers and sisters, Brigham Young was to have said, quote,

When temples are announced, all the bells in hell begin to ring. End of quote.

But I, too, believe when temples are announced, all the bells in heaven begin to ring. And we are grateful as latter-day saints for the community of [INDISTINCT] that allowed this to progress without a lot of opposition. And that's not always the case.

51 years ago, I picked up two young men who were standing on a street corner in Cookeville during a terrible storm.

They were very talkative, and I found out that they were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

and a few days later they showed up uninvited

as my wife was in the hospital having her first child.

But from that providential encounter the dark and stormy nights so long ago,

my life that had been full of darkness began to change.

Years later, they told me why they had reluctantly gotten in.

I had had a head shot back then, and they could tell it was a hippie van. And from the looks of this crowd and most of you are old enough to know what a head shot was,

it was during those discussions that I first heard of a Mormon temple.

They even showed a picture of the Salt Lake Temple.

It seemed to have this presence that I didn't understand at the time,

but those missionaries had it, too,

and I began to pick up on something. When they were there,

this darkness that I’d had for years would leave.

When they would leave, the missionaries, this thing would come back.

I would have never believed 51 years ago that a picture of a temple, a Book of Mormon, and two young men would have turned our world upside down with the light of the gospel. And I don’t mean that figuratively, either.

I was told a year later in my patriarchal blessing to take my family to the temple and be sealed. The challenge? It was 1800 miles away, one way, but with what little money we had, my wife and I, with our one-year-old daughter, packed up that old hippie van,

a modern day handcart, and hoped that all would be well. And we told our children and grandchildren today that we had to cross the plains to be married.

Then came DC, Atlanta, Nashville, and Knoxville.

We often think of light as something we use to see things by, and we do. But there is a greater light.

The New Testament speaks of Christ being the Light of the World.

This light, His light, can illuminate our dark and dreary paths in our lives.

But this light is to be far more than what we see by.

It is to be an illumination within our very being. An intriguing journey.

The temple is here, brothers and sisters, to help with this illumination. It is the house of the Lord, a house of glory.

Not only will it illuminate the dark sky at night in this area,

but it can illuminate all who enter. There will be a power here.

It is His house. His glory will be found here.

In the days to come, when this house, His house, is finished,

I would encourage the community of Knoxville and throughout this temple region,

especially if you’re struggling or hurting, to come here to His house.

We all are beloved sons or daughters of heavenly parents, and regardless of our sinful state, their desire is for us to come home to Them, to go no more out. Come and see. Come and feel His power here, His light here, His glory here.

But more importantly, is to partake of all that will be here.

Those who have recommends, and if it is a season in your life that you can,

please consider becoming an ordinance worker in this house, His house, you're going to be needed. I've been one for ten years, off and on.

But regardless of how many times you have been or will come,

there is a blessing only, only to those, and reserved for those, who are set apart to work in the house of the Lord. His house. Brothers and sisters, though graveyards come close in a different way, there has never been, nor will ever be, a more sacred ground found from here to Nashville,

or until another boundary line of a temple district meets than where this house, His house, will be built here in Knoxville.

Though there has been much done before now,

it begins today symbolically with shovels, I suppose, without dirt.

Using an expression from Boyd K. Packer that I love,

I believe perfectly, I believe perfectly, and can testify from the book of Psalms 11, the Lord is in His holy temples.

I believe that perfectly. In the Doctrine and Covenants: For behold, I will accept this house, and my name shall be here, and I will manifest myself

to my people in mercy in this house, my house. And I believe that perfectly.

And I have experienced and know from Elder Bednar’s quote, His house, His house can remind us all who come of all that is still good and beautiful in the world. I'll leave you with this thought. Let all the bells in hell ring. For they are ringing in heaven, too,

unlike any time in the history of mankind. And I say this and leave it with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

[CHOIR SINGING] “THIS IS THE CHRIST”

Thank you very much. That was beautiful.

Brothers and sisters, it's now my pleasure to have the opportunity to hear from Elder Shayne Bowen. After his message,

Elder Bowen will offer a prayer dedicating this site for the temple in Knoxville, of this sacred temple, and that will officially conclude our program for here today. After the dedicatory prayer, you’ll be... You will be invited to remain here.

A certain number have been invited to go to the site to participate in the soil turning.

The site is very small and we only have a few people there. Unfortunately, because of the weather, we were not,

we were limited and had to move the program here and have just a few people go back. But there will be, as those of you that remain, there will be a special video presentation that you'll be able to view that will tell you more about the preparation of the site and get a good bird’s eye view of it, literally. The actual soil turning broadcast will then be broadcast back here to those at the stake center, and also those who are listening on the internet.

It’s now my pleasure to turn the time over to Elder Shayne Bowen,

who will conclude with his remarks and the dedicatory prayer.

Brothers and sisters, thank you for being here today and thank you to our special guests.

We're grateful and we will call you brothers and sisters because we're all sons and daughters of God. And we feel that. And we're grateful that you would take your time to be here today.

Brothers and sisters, as a Church, we believe in God, the Eternal Father, in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost as three separate personages.

We believe that all three are omniscient, which means they know the past, the present, and the future. And they they know us individually. I testify that we are sons and daughters of God, and that He loves us and wants us to come home. In the time of Christ, as He came to the earth, as we read in Matthew 16, as He was being taken from the earth, He gave to Peter the keys to seal on earth and in heaven, or to bind on earth and in heaven.

I testify that those keys, after the apostles died, they were taken from the earth, and there was a period of time when those keys were not found upon the earth. But with the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the keys to seal and bind on earth were restored.

And what that means to us as members of the Church is that we can be eternal families, that we can be eternal partnerships. I have always felt, I have served as a bishop and as a stake president, and in that case, I could marry people. But the words were always in that ceremony, “Until death do us part,”

and I never liked that part.

But the the marriages that we have in the temple, the words are different. And husband and wife are sealed together for time and for all eternity. And children that have been born are born in that covenant, or are also sealed to their parents for time and for all eternity.

That's the thing that makes our temples different than this chapel. In our chapels we enjoy the blessings of our youth programs, basketball, nursery, the women's programs, the men's programs. But the temple is different than a chapel. It's not where we have our weekly meetings. It's an opportunity that we have to go to the house of the Lord, literally, and to make covenants with Him. What are covenants? Covenants are promises, two-way promises that we promise something and God promises something. And that covenant path for us begins with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And then second, repentance to show that we’re willing to, we’re not perfect, but we’re willing to repent.

Third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Fourth, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Holy Ghost can become our constant companion if we live our lives in such a manner that he can be there.

The next is the priesthood, because without the priesthood,

the authority of Jesus Christ is not on the earth. So through the priesthood, we are able to go to the temple of God and make covenants with Him. We receive an endowment. We make promises that we will keep our lives morally clean, that we will serve one another, that we will lift each other's burdens, that we will follow the commandments, all things that bless our lives and bless the communities that we live in and bless everyone because we're following the example of Jesus Christ.

Then the endowment, that's where we receive those covenants. And then finally, the sealing.

And that in, again, in Matthew 16, it talks about the power to bind on earth and in heaven. That is the sealing power. And we can go to any house of the Lord, the temple,

and be worthy, and, being worthy to go there, we can be sealed together for time and all eternity. That's why for us, family history is so important. We can go back 13, 15, 18 generations because we believe that that same covenant path that I've just mentioned not only applies for the living, but it does for the dead as well. What about our ancestors that didn't have a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ? Does God just say, “Too bad”? No. He's prepared a way through us doing vicarious work. Vicarious is a big word, but it's so important.

Christ, vicarious work is doing something for someone else that they cannot do for themselves. And the perfect

example of that is Jesus Christ.

He has paid a price for our sins, for our weaknesses.

A price that we could not pay. But He came willingly,

following the will of the Father, and took upon Himself the sins of the world.

Something that we can’t do, that is vicarious work.

Well, the ordinances that we receive in the temple are the same way. They have gone, but they need someone here to do that work for them. And then are they forced into heaven? Heavens, no.

But it gives them the opportunity to choose. And then they have those ordinances that are necessary. So, brothers and sisters, the work of the temples is a work of love.

We do it for ourselves the first time. But then as we return to the temple, we do it for our loved ones and for those that didn't have that opportunity and that chance.

The temple here in Knoxville will make a difference in the whole community. There will be light that comes into the community that has not been there before. And this is a wonderful place. And you think, how can that happen in the South at such a great place already?

But it will be blessed because of the work that is done there.

And I want to testify to you that I know that God knows me. He’s my Father. He loves me and He wants me to come home.

And He’s provided a path whereby I can do that, and He’s done that for every one of us children.

It is the covenant path that will take us home. And so that’s why, as members of the Church, we're so excited to have the temples announced all over the world. I was telling someone when I was a little boy, grew up in Idaho Falls. There were eight temples in the world.

Now there are going to be 335 worldwide temples where God is bringing His work to His people so that we can enter in and worship in the holy temple, receive the saving ordinances that will allow us to return home and live in His presence as families forever.

There's nothing better than that, brothers and sisters. There's nothing better than that.

So at this time, I would like to give a dedicatory prayer on this temple. On this specific temple.

Our dear and kind Father in Heaven.

This day we, a few of Thy children, gather in this sacred place to dedicate this spot of ground to Thee and to Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Redeemer, our friend.

We know that there are thousands and thousands of people on both sides of the veil who rejoice this day for the great gift of a temple in our midst and the opportunity which this temple will afford to both living and departed, to receive in Thy house the culminating ordinances of the covenant path. Father, this groundbreaking in preparation for Thy holy temple has been the hope and the desire of Thy saints in this part of Thy vineyard for many years.

We give Thee thanks for this great privilege and honor to have a temple, Thy house, so close to us.

We pour out our hearts and gratitude for this marvelous blessing that has come to us.

We recognize our weaknesses before thee,

and at the same time commit ourselves to be better in our lives and in building Thy kingdom. We will come to Thy house often. At this time, Holy Father, with keys delegated from Thy servant Russell M. Nelson, the prophet and president of the of Thy Church here upon the earth, and with the authority of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood,

I dedicate this spot of ground to the building of Thy holy house.

We pray that this spot will be protected from the natural disasters that occur in this part of the world.

Father, please bless this ground and Thy temple, that it will be built here with protection from those who would do harm or evil to this sacred spot or to Thy temple.

Father, please bless those who will construct the Knoxville Tennessee Temple, that they will feel Thy presence here and reverence it as a sacred, holy site. Bless them that they will be protected from harm and danger, and that the very best of their skills and the very best materials will be put into the building of this house.

We love thee, Father. We love Thy Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are eternally grateful that through Thy plan of salvation and exaltation with Jesus Christ at the center of Thy plan, each one of us has a clear path through Thy temples to come home back into Thy presence. We are completely indebted to Thy Son, Jesus Christ, for His willingness to do Thy will and become our Savior.

Father, we thank Thee for the blessing which we have received here today of being in this sacred time and place. In the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.